Allison Dickens

Allison H. Dickens was a Senior Editor at the Penguin and Random House Publishing Groups. She co-created the XYZ line of books for twenty-somethings while at Ballantine/Random House, and oversaw the Ballantine Reader's Circle program. In 2008 she left full-time publishing for a more family friendly schedule as a freelance editor. She has also worked in magazine publishing and for an independent publisher.

Finding Inspiration in Times of Trouble…

with Allison Dickens

If your mind is whirling with current events, you’re having a hard time focusing on writing, or you miss your writing group meet ups, join us for a prompt class where we will concentrate on escaping the world and finding joy as we write and discuss elements of craft. Class# S219m20 WHERE: online via ZOOM […]

Finding Inspiration in Times of Trouble…

with Allison Dickens

Everyday Inspirations: Prompts Guaranteed to Get Your Pen Moving

with Allison Dickens

Inspiration is all around us but can be easily overlooked. Each week we will use prompts drawn from everyday experiences to ignite our imaginations in this fun workshop designed to both inspire and polish your writing. Realistic dialogue, creating dynamic characters and balancing description with action are a few of the craft elements we’ll explore. […]

Character Study

with Allison Dickens

How do you create a character who comes to life on the page and is relatable? In this workshop we’ll use prompts to explore different ways to add layers to characters so they feel real. We’ll dive into the “why” behind characters and people, which is often at the root of the best characters: Why […]

From the Beginning

with Allison Dickens

What makes a great opening line? How do you grab a reader from the first page? In this workshop we will look at what makes a great beginning examining classic and contemporary bestsellers known for their immediate hooks. Participants will have the opportunity to submit the first 5 pages of their current work for review […]